Petunia plant named &#39;kakegawa s36&#39;

ABSTRACT

A Petunia cultivar particularly distinguished by its magenta flower color and creeping, mounding habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPetunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Kakegawa S36’. ‘Kakegawa S36’ originated from ahybridization made in 1995 in Kakegawa, Japan. The male parent was abreeding line named P-1a (not patented). The female parent of ‘KakegawaS36’ was a dwarf multiflora breeding line with cherry colored flowersnamed 88S-1318-1a-1a-1 (not patented). F₁ seed was obtained from thiscross in 1995.

[0002] F₁ plants were grown in Kakegawa, Japan and evaluated during thespring of 1996. Segregation of plant and flower characteristics wasobserved due to segregation in the parent lines. F₁ plants weretransplanted to a field in Salinas, Calif. during the summer of 1998.Two lines were selected and vegetatively propagated for furtherevaluation. The two lines were propagated again in 1999, and evaluatedfor fixed characteristics and ease of propagation. Final selection ofone line from the two was made during the summer of 1999. The line wasestablished as ‘Kakegawa S36’, and determined to have itscharacteristics firmly fixed.

[0003] ‘Kakegawa S36’ has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics after two years and four cycles of vegetativepropagation and this novelty is firmly fixed. The variety hasdemonstrated stability during this time and has no inherent variation oroff-types.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

[0004] This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows blooms, and foliage of the plant in full color,the colors shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

[0005]FIG. 1 shows the mature inflorescence;

[0006]FIG. 2 shows the entire plant approximately eight weeks aftertransplanting a rooted cutting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

[0007] The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Kakegawa S36’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. Three plants from fully rooted 15 cm diameter pots weretransplanted to one 50 cm diameter hanging baskets and grown in the sameconditions. Data was collected on plants in 50 cm diameter pots eightweeks after rooted cuttings were transplanted. Color references areprimarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon (RHS).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

[0008] Classification:

[0009]Botanical.—Petunia hybrida

[0010]Commercial.—Petunia

[0011] Parentage:

[0012]Female parent.—breeding line 88S-1318-1a-1a-1 (not patented)

[0013]Male parent.—breeding line P-1a (not patented)

[0014] Environmental Conditions for Plant Growth:

[0015] Plants were propagated from vegetative cuttings, and grownindividually in 15 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouselocated in Salinas, California. Pots contained a peat moss-based growingmedium. Soluble fertilizer containing 18% nitrogen, 8% phosphorus and18% potassium was applied in four, daily irrigations. The fifthirrigation was made with non- fertilized water. Pots were top-dressedwith a slow release fertilizer containing 18% nitrogen, 8% phosphorusand 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24C.

[0016] Growth:

[0017]Habit.—branching, mounding

[0018]Form.—descending

[0019]Plant Size.—91 cm total diameter and 76 cm total height when threeplants are grown in a 50 cm diameter hanging basket for 7-8 weeks.

[0020]Flowering habit.—indeterminate

[0021]Time to bloom from propagation.—4-6 weeks after rooting when grownin 10-15 cm diameter plastic pots.

[0022]Life Cycle.—annual

[0023] Stems:

[0024]Color.—yellow-green (RHS 145A)

[0025]Description.—round, pubescent

[0026]Diameter.—2-3 mm

[0027]Internode length.—4 cm

[0028] Leaves:

[0029]Arrangement.—opposite

[0030]Apex.—mucronate

[0031]Base.—oblique

[0032]Color.—upper surface is green (RHS 137B) and lower surface isgreen (RHS 138B).

[0033]Margin.—entire

[0034]Size.—length is 4.8 cm and width is 2.5 cm, both at full expansion

[0035]Shape.—ovate

[0036]Texture.—coarse

[0037]Venation.—pinnate

[0038]Pubescence.—present, clear

[0039] Flowers:

[0040]Calyx.—5 sepals; 2 cm×8 mm (length×width)

[0041]Corolla.—5 petals, fused

[0042]Flower diameter.—7.0 —7.5 cm

[0043]Fragrant.—yes

[0044]Inflorescence type.—solitary

[0045]Pistil.—compound

[0046]Ovary.—superior, parietal placentation

[0047]Stamens.—5 total with two long and three short

[0048]Peduncle.—2.7 cm×2 mm (length×width); pubescent

[0049] Petal color—Limbs: upper—red-purple (RHS N74A) with purple (RHSN78A) veins; lower—red-purple (RHS N74C) with purple (RHS N78A) veins.Tube: Inner—purple-violet (RHS N82A) with purple (RHS 79A) veins;Outside is purple-violet (RHS N82A) with purple (RHS 79A) veins.

[0050]Petal pubescence.—absent

[0051]Tube throat diameter.—1.0 cm

[0052]Pollen color.—Violet (RHS 85B)

[0053]Produces seed.—Yes

Disease and Insect Resistance

[0054] No susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

Comparison with Known Cultivars

[0055] ‘Kakegawa S36’ is a distinct variety of Petunia owing to itsmagenta flower color and creeping, mounding habit. ‘Kakegawa S36’ ismost similar to the variety ‘Purple Wave’; however, ‘Kakegawa S36’ has amagenta flower color. The table below shows the characteristics thatbest distinguish the new variety from the comparison variety.Characteristic ‘Kakegawa S36’ ‘Purple Wave’ Flower diameter 7.0-7.5 cm6.2-6.7 cm Primary petal color Magenta RHS 74A Deep red-purple RHS 74A(upper) Primary petal color Magenta RHS 74C Reddish purple RHS 72B(lower)

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia as shown anddescribed herein.